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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is designed to present a comprehensive review of organized crime groups and their activities, based on intelligence and investigation reports from Canadian and international enforcement agencies. In particular, CISC relies on intelligence from CISC member agencies across Canada.
CISC monitors and reports on national organized crime priorities, including Asian and East European-based organized crime groups, Traditional (Italian-based) organized crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs. CISC also has intelligence projects in place to monitor the sexual exploitation of children and a contraband desk to cover other priorities and issues such as Aboriginal-based organized crime, the illegal movement of firearms and organized crime in marine ports. Emerging issues of interest to our partners, such as illegal gaming and technological crime, are also included in this report.
Asian-based organized crime groups continue to be extensively involved in the importation and trafficking of drugs and are also expanding their criminal activities to capitalize on new technology which will facilitate their interests in counterfeiting, fraud and money laundering. They continue to be involved in the smuggling of illegal migrants through Canada’s points of entry - air, sea and land. As the profit potential for migrant smuggling is large, it is expected that Asian-based organized crime groups will continue this activity.
East European-based organized crime (EEOC) groups continue to expand their association with other organized crime groups, both within and outside of Canada. EEOC’s criminal activities have expanded beyond street-level crimes and now include a variety of sophisticated fraud, theft, smuggling and counterfeit activities.
Traditional organized crime groups continue to be involved in the importation and distribution of drugs, extortion, loan-sharking and operating illegal gambling machines and sport betting. Project OMERTA, which involved key members of the CARUANA-CUNTRERA organizations, concluded with the sentencing of Alfonso and Pasquale CARUANA.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs, particularly the HELLS ANGELS, continue to expand both in terms of criminal activities and membership. The armed conflict between the HELLS ANGELS and the ROCK MACHINE in Quebec continues and more violence is expected with the expansion of the HELLS ANGELS and the ROCK MACHINE’s recent move into Ontario. The HELLS ANGELS continue to be involved in the importation and distribution of drugs, the illegal trafficking of firearms and explosives, extortion, fraud, prostitution and money laundering.
The distribution of child pornography is expanding proportionately with Internet use in Canada. Chat rooms and web sites dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children facilitate communication between pornographers and pedophiles and the dissemination of child pornography. Across the country, the number of cases involving the sexual exploitation of children have increased. Police and law enforcement continue to coordinate with other government agencies in order to address issues regarding the sexual exploitation of children.
The inter provincial movement of tobacco products from lower tax to higher tax provinces and the smuggling and trafficking of alcohol continue to be a problem in Canada. As a result of commodity-related weaknesses identified by health and law enforcement agencies, measures including tax increases, amended legislation and regulations, and improved marking and packaging are being implemented.
Organized crime groups that continue to be active at Canada’s largest marine ports include Asian-based, East European-based and Traditional organized crime groups and outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The expansion of online gambling in Canada poses new challenges to law enforcement. Video gaming and lottery machines continue to be the largest illicit source of gambling revenue. Various organized crime groups, including the HELLS ANGELS, Asian and East European-based organized crime groups and Traditional organized crime groups, continue to be involved in illegal gaming. Law enforcement has made a number of seizures of video gaming machines and proceeds this year.
Technology, particularly computer technology, is enabling organized crime groups to operate in an increasingly secure and anonymous way while exploiting Internet-based schemes like fraud or on-line gambling. Sophisticated tools and information enable would-be hackers to access secure computer systems and affect millions of users across the world in a short period of time. Credit card fraud continues to increase, particularly with the easy availability of desktop publishing equipment and programs. Computer crime investigations are made complex by issues of jurisdiction, resource-intensive investigations and organized crime’s knowledge of law enforcement interception techniques.